The Bundaberg Sailing Club has been awarded $35,000 in government funds to construct a new pontoon, Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett has announced.
Mr Bennett said he’s thrilled that the club is finally able to put in a new pontoon after their current one was damaged in the floods.
“The Bundaberg Sailing Club has been using a damaged pontoon for years,” Mr Bennett said.
“It’s a vital piece of equipment for the club and the repairs that were done in 2013 have nearly reached their use by date.
“This funding will go a huge way and the members tell me they were almost out of options.
“The lining has come away from the bottom of the current pontoon causing it to start to sink.
“Groups such as the Bundaberg Sailing Club play such an important role in our communities, and I’m committed to ensuring they are supported as much as possible.”
Secretary of the Bundaberg Sailing Club Brian Bedford said the grant came as a welcome surprise.
“We rescued our current pontoon in the 2013 flood and we were able to rejuvenate it to some degree and refloat it,” he said.
“But in the last few years it has deteriorated through minor flood events that have brought hyacinth and logs down the river.
“This debris has damaged the underside of the pontoon to the point where it’s basically a throw away job and needs a total replacement.
“Our new pontoon will be more resilient and will hopefully last more than 20 years.”
Mr Bennett said the Bundaberg Sailing Club was one of a number of not-for-profit groups throughout the Burnett region to receive a grant.
The Woodgate Men’s Shed has also seen almost $35,000 committed to them to go towards constructing a new shed.
23.10.18